Blog.EmealsForYou

Back to Basics – Climbing Off the Dessert Bandwagon

January 5, 2009 at 10:38 am 2 comments

(From the Soups Collection at emealsforyou.com)

Old Fashioned Chicken Soup

Over the last couple of weeks I have been able to justify, at least to myself, all the desserts I consumed.  Holiday eating behavior; my diet starts after the New Year, all easy excuses to justify pigging out.  Well, it’s the First of the Year and the clock is ticking.

My wife has been kicking around a cold for a few days so I decided to make a large pot of old fashioned chicken soup; just like my father made once a month when I was growing up.  I’m sorry but I was spoiled in my developing years.  Homemade chicken soup, not the kind out of a can, is something special and if you are not feeling right it is the best medicine money can buy.

This recipe makes a lot of soup, so much that you may be tempted to give some away to a neighbor.  That’s what I did and still had enough to freeze for a later “health emergency”.

Old Fashioned Chicken Soup

This recipe makes a lot of soup and you will have extra cooked chicken leftover for another use. Heat a large soup pot, add the olive oil, when it begins to shimmer add the cut up and dried chicken. Brown, don’t burn, the chicken on both sides. Add the onion, carrots, celery, salt, and stir. Lightly brown the vegetables; add the broth and water and stir. Cook on a low boil for 20 -30 minutes; until the chicken is fork tender. Remove the chicken to a platter and taste the broth. Depending on the chicken, the broth may need to be reduced to concentrate the flavors. Cook on the boil until the broth is tasty. In the meantime, remove the chicken from the bones. Cut half the chicken into small pieces and add back to the soup pot. Once the soup is done adjust the salt and pepper to taste. (It is important to not add the salt prior to reducing; as the soup will become too salty)
Bring the soup back up to the boil. Drop the spaetzle batter into the boiling soup to form small dumplings.

Use the remaining chicken in chicken salad or tacos.

Entry filed under: Dinners. Tags: chicken and dumpling soup, chicken soup, feel better soup, homemade chicken soup, old-fashioned chicken soup, soup.